Explanation: Spirit moved
across Mars yesterday as the rover
successfully maneuvered down off its lander, driving
its six wheels onto the floor of Gusev crater.
As planned, the
robotic geologist will now
begin a close-up examination of the rocks and soil around the landing site
for clues to the processes that formed them.
A perspective projection
of Spirit'slocal martian rocks
and soil is shown above, based on 3D color image data recorded when
rover was still perched on its landing platform.
Dark-colored airbag drag marks stretch across the soil in
this view of the surface.
For scale, the triangular-faced rock in the upper left corner is
about 20 centimeters (8 inches) high.
Scientists anticipate that the rover's investigation
will yield valuable evidence helping
to confirm or refute
the possibility that the floor of Gusev crater is
an ancient lake bed.